BBC - Press Office - Network TV Programme Information Week 42 Blue Peter Feature Programme copy (Blue Peter At 50) The Beginning 1. Blue Peter first aired on 16 October 1958 and transmitted for 15 minutes. 2. The first presenters were Christopher Trace and Leila Williams. Christopher Trace was the stand-in for Charlton Heston in blockbuster Ben-Hur and Leila Williams had been crowned Miss Great Britain the previous year. 3. Blue Peter was created by John Hunter Blair. Throughout the programme's 50-year history, there have been just six editors: Biddy Baxter, Lewis Bronze, Oliver Macfarlane, Steve Hocking, Richard Marson and the current editor Tim Levell. 4. The 50th anniversary edition of the show on 16 October will be programme number 4,406. Ships and Songs 5. Blue Peter is named after the blue and white flag hoisted when a ship is ready to set sail from port. The reasoning for the choice is that the programme is intended to be a voyage of adventure and discovery for the viewers, constantly covering new topics. 6.

The ship's symbol, the Blue Peter Galleon, was designed by much-loved TV artist Tony Hart, who received just £100 for his work – which is worth an estimated £1,537 in today's money. Had he been paid royalties they would have made him a millionaire. 7. The theme tune is called Barnacle Bill. There have been nine versions of the theme tune, and the latest arrangement was introduced for this year's series. The Faces 8. There have been 34 Blue Peter presenters, including this year's new recruits, Helen Skelton and Joel Defries. 9. The longest-serving presenter was John Noakes, who presented the series for 12 and a half years and was 45 when he left. On one famous occasion, John was asked to drop his trousers for the show to show the bruises he had sustained during a bobsleigh film. According to his recollection, he realised that he was wearing his wife's underwear which he had put on by accident in the dark! On 17 May 1976, John Noakes collapsed in the studio due to exhaustion and Lesley Judd had to take over. 10.

John Noakes's famous catchphrase was "Get Down Shep". In 1978, pop group The Barron Knights released a single of the same name which reached No. 44 in the charts. 11. Peter Duncan is the only presenter to do two stints on the show. He became a gold badge holder after he was made Chief Scout in Feb 2007. 12. Yvette Fielding was the youngest-ever presenter. She was 18 when she joined the series. 13. Sarah Greene met her husband, former TV presenter Mike Smith, through Blue Peter whilst being filmed learning to dive on the Mary Rose wreck. 14. The shortest-serving listed presenter was Anita West, who lasted for just four months before returning to her acting career. 15. The following stars applied to be become presenters but didn't make it: Kevin Whately, Sally James, Howard Stableford, Gail Porter, Jake Humphrey, Todd Carty and Sidney Sloane. 16. The famous Blue Peter badge was launched on 17 June 1963. 17. There are six types of badges – Blue, Green, Silver, Gold, Purple and Orange.

Blue can be won by viewers sending in an interesting letter, poem, picture or story, or by appearing on the programme. Silver is for viewers who already have a blue but have to do something different to win one. Green is the environmental award, for viewers who make contributions on "green" subjects. Orange is given to viewers who have been either a winner or runner-up in a Blue Peter competition. The Gold badge is Blue Peter's highest award and is only given to people who have shown outstanding bravery and courage, or have represented their country in an international event. Introduced in 2006, the Purple badge is awarded to "Team Player" children who take an active role in the show, either by reviewing it, suggesting ideas for items or helping with audience research. 18. Famous Gold badge winners include Her Majesty The Queen, who received one in 2001, David Beckham, JK Rowling, Torvill and Dean and Bonnie the Blue Peter dog, who was given one on her retirement in 1991. It has also become tradition to present a leaving presenter with a gold badge on their final show. 19.

In 45 years of the badge scheme it is estimated that the programme has awarded half a million badges. 20. Every guest who comes on the show gets a badge. Celebrities with badges include: Madonna, Tony Blair, Mr Bean, Morph, Ewan McGregor, Dawn French, David Tennant, Catherine Tate, Gordon Brown, Uri Geller (who did his first fork-bending on Blue Peter), David Cassidy, ABBA, Elton John, Carrie Fisher and Pele. Bryony Stokes, 2008 Olympic medallist, wore her Blue Peter badge as she windsurfed to her Bronze medal victory. 21. A Blue Peter badge and certificate will get children of 15 years and under free admission into 200 venues up and down the country. Blue Peter and the Doctor 22. Peter Purves was a Doctor Who assistant before he joined the children's series. 23. Sophie Aldred's Dr Who character, Ace, wore Blue Peter badges which were Sophie's own. 24. A competition to design a Blue Peter monster in 2005 generated 43,920 entries.

The winning monster was the Abzorbaloff, which appeared in the story Love & Monsters. Blue Peter pets 25. Blue Peter's pets are almost as well-known as its presenters. There have been eight dogs, five tortoises, nine cats and two parrots. 26. George the tortoise is the longest-serving pet. He made his first appearance in 1982. When he died in 2004 he was around 81 years old. He is the only pet buried in the Blue Peter garden. He once became amorous with a pair of Sarah Greene's shoes, thinking they were another tortoise… 27. Another tortoise, originally named Fred, had to be renamed Freda when it was discovered he was, in fact, a she. The Trips 28. From Morocco to Mexico and Japan to Jamaica, there have been 43 Blue Peter summer expeditions covering every continent on the globe. 29. During a Blue Peter expedition to Egypt, presenter Tina Heath was caught short with a dodgy tummy and had to use her script as toilet paper! Here's One I Made Earlier 30.

In 1962, a housewife named Margaret Parnell sent in the idea for the first "make" and spent the best part of the next 40 years creating them, designing over 700. 31. Early makes included the classic Christmas Advent crown, doll's hammocks and bird-seed cakes. Recent makes include a Tardis pencil case. 32. The most popular make was Tracy Island, which received 100,000 requests for the Factsheet in 1993. Anthea Turner still has the Tracy Island she made on the show. Helping Out 33. The Blue Peter Appeals started in 1962 when viewers were asked to collect postage stamps to raise money for homes for the homeless. 34. It's estimated that, across the 46 appeals, children have raised the equivalent of over £100m in today's money. The 14 Bring & Buy Sales have raised the equivalent of an estimated £57m.

Other items collected by the appeal include over 948,025,000 stamps, 19m aluminium cans, 800 tons of wool and over 1,450,000 pairs of shoes, including David Beckham's boots. 35. Between 1962 and 2007 the appeals have raised money to buy, amongst others, the following: two guide dogs, 25 life boats, eight flats for homeless people, 32 ponies , 57 lorries, three caravans, two day centres, six bungalows, 12 houses in Romania, 8,350 lavatories and three schools. 36. The Blue Peter lifeboats can still be found at seven lifeboat stations around the country. They've been launched over 4,600 times and have saved, up to 20 March 2008, 1058 lives. Blue Peter and Green Fingers 37. The Blue Peter Garden was launched on 21 March 1974. Percy Thrower was the first gardener and was awarded his gold badge in 1988.

The second gardener was Chris Crowder, followed by Clare Bradley and, currently, Chris Collins. 38. The Blue Peter Garden was vandalised three times – in 1978, 1980 and 1983 – before security cameras were eventually fitted. 39. TV executive Edward Barnes "nicked" the idea for the garden from rival series Magpie. Blue Peter babies 40. In 1968 it was decided that Blue Peter would feature a baby on the programme, to show viewers what it was like to have a little brother or sister. On 30 September of that year, baby Daniel made his first appearance at just 14 weeks old and made regular appearances over the next two years. 41. Presenters who had babies during the time they worked on the programme were Tina Heath, who had Jemma, and Liz Barker who had Dexter. In 1987, presenter Janet Ellis was the focus of national scrutiny when she had baby Jack out of wedlock. Incontinent Elephants and Beautiful Knockers 42.

Peter Purves attributes the blame for Lulu the incontinent elephant to editor Biddy Baxter, who allegedly asked Lulu's keeper to do without the stick he used to keep her under control. The ensuing chaos saw Lulu pee, poo and generally misbehave around the studio, dragging her gamekeeper through the mess. 43. Other memorable moments include Simon Groom's innuendo-laden: "What a beautiful pair of knockers", when commenting on a replacement for Durham Cathedral's historic door knocker; Mark Curry knocking the head off a LEGO model; and Diane-Louise Jordan falling flat on her face whilst covering John Leslie's run in the London Marathon. The Competitions 44. A competition to design a frock for presenter Caron Keating solicited responses from 69,928 debut dressmakers. In 1981 a competition to design a Christmas stamp generated 74,000 responses, and a contest to design a character for Aardman Animations in 2006 attracted 47,268 budding Nick Parks. Miscellaneous 45.

Children who appeared on the show and have gone on to be famous include: Formula 1 ace Lewis Hamilton and popstar James Blunt (then James Blount). Konnie Huq also appeared in 1989 with the National Youth Theatre before she went on to become the programme's longest-serving presenter. Richard Deverell, the current Controller of BBC Children's, appeared on the show in 1976 as part of a troupe of knitting scouts. 46. Blue Peter has many Royal friends. A young Prince Edward visited Blue Peter in 1969 and, in 1970, Valerie Singleton and HRH Princess Anne filmed their Royal Safari in Kenya. Her Majesty The Queen visited the studio in 2001 and was given a gold badge. Blue Peter's current presenters and a specially selected number of former presenters and production staff have been invited to The Palace to meet Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate the 50th anniversary. 47. There have been four Blue Peter time capsules. The first was buried at BBC Television Centre in 1971 and the second in 1984, when the first box had to be moved because of development at Television Centre.

Another was buried in 2000, which will be opened in 2029. There is also one hidden under the Millennium Dome/02 Centre which will be opened in 2050. 48. Blue Peter is the longest-running children's TV series in the world and the programme and its presenters have earned themselves countless records. John Noakes's Long Fall gave him a place in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest delayed drop by a civilian; Janet Ellis jumped 20,000 feet – a European record for a civilian woman; and Matt Baker's tandem hang-gliding also made the record books. 49. Blue Peter has won 40 awards, including two Baftas, a National Television Award and an RTS Award. 50. If you sat down and watched every episode of Blue Peter ever made, back to back, it would take around two and a half months – about the same amount of time needed to drive four times round the world. Blue Peter (TV Series 1958– ) - IMDb IMDb 17 January 2017 4:34 PM, UTC NEWS There was an error trying to load your rating for this title.

Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error British childrens magazine program which has run since the end of the 50s. Aimed at kids from the age of about 6-14. The show has different segments where the presenters would show the ... See full summary » Creator: a list of 8 titles created 02 May 2011 a list of 272 titles created 16 Nov 2011 a list of 25 titles created 15 Mar 2012 a list of 85 titles created 16 Nov 2014 a list of 182 titles created 06 Apr 2015 Search for " Blue Peter " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. 9 wins & 15 nominations. See more awards » Photos The long running television series of the Grange Hill Comprehensive School, and the children's everyday lives.

Stars: Stuart Organ, Gwyneth Powell, Lee Cornes A celebrity reads a story, enhancing it in ways that will entice the most restless of children. Stars: Bernard Cribbins, Bernard Holley, Ray Smith Tracy Beaker is a 10 year old child, who was placed in a children's home. Tracy makes new friends along the way, and causes mischief where ever she goes. Stars: Dani Harmer, Montanna Thompson, Ciaran Joyce An educational series presenting various art project suggestions and creations. Stars: Neil Buchanan, Peter Corey, Mitchell Knight Crazy antics ensue when Barry and Paul Chuckle get into various exaggerated situations. Stars: Barry Chuckle, Paul Chuckle, Jimmy Patton Popular British children's animation series, repeated almost constantly since 1971. Mr Benn is the ordinary, bowler-hatted office worker who lives in the ordinary suburban street of Festive... See full summary » Stars: Ray Brooks The Queen's Nose (TV Series 1995) Comedy | Drama | Family Children's series about a magic coin that can grant wishes.

Stars: Heather-Jay Jones, Victoria Shalet, Paula Wilcox 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8.5/10 X A team of 6 contestants play a series of physical, mental, skill and mystery games across 4 themed zones gaining as many crystals as possible which determine how many seconds they get as they attempt to win a prize inside the Crystal Dome. Stars: Richard O'Brien, Edward Tudor-Pole, Sandra Caron Brum is a car who loves to go around the city each day. Follow him as he helps save the day by identifying criminals, dances with people and sometimes even gets up to no good, only to be helpful later. Stars: Toyah Willcox, Mike Cavanagh, Tom Wright A melancholic children's animation from the 'Smallfilms' team of Postgate and Firmin. Bagpuss and his friends are toys in a turn of the century shop for 'found things'. When young Emily ...

See full summary » Stars: Oliver Postgate, Sandra Kerr, John Faulkner Legendary British children's animation of the early 70s made by the 'Smallfilms' team of Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, this series chronicled the melancholically funny lives of the ... See full summary » Stars: Oliver Postgate John Craven (and latterly other presenters) introduce news stories and other articles of interest to its young audience. Broadcast at around 5.00pm on BBC1 in the UK. Stars: Ricky Boleto, Leah Gooding, Joe Tidy Edit Storyline British childrens magazine program which has run since the end of the 50s. Aimed at kids from the age of about 6-14. The show has different segments where the presenters would show the viewers how to make things, how to care for your pet, and other features.

Written by Jeffrey Petro <JeffP@iserver.icon.palo-alto.med.va.gov> 16 October 1958 (UK) See more » Filming Locations: It is currently the longest running children's television show in the world See more » Quotes [deliberate double-entendre in item about making hedges by partially cutting tree trunks and laying the trees flat] Simon Groom : One of the competitors was saying to me that as long as you have a decent length to start with, you can manage a good lay. Throw away the sticky back plastic and you've got a great programme 23 March 2006 | by de_niro_2001 (scotland) – See all my reviews This programme is a great institution and part of childhood for anyone growing up in the UK in the second half of the 20th century or the early 21st century. It is full of interesting items and coveys the message that nothing in life is dull or uninteresting. It is a programme that can be watched over the evening meal and it only lasts for 25 minutes. But what a knack they have of cramming a lot into 25 minutes.

I think it's fair to say that many people will have visited places that have been featured on Blue Peter, both at home and abroad, and taken up activities that have been featured in the programme (such as free fall parachuting, but rather them than me). It also features practical advice on matters like dog care. Teaching kids cookery is another good aspect of the programme. But the makes! They are so cheesy. I mean, who ever made anything useful that was featured on Blue Peter. Aren't you better buying something at the shops rather than making it out of Fairy Liquid bottles and sticky back plastic. And making a model of the Blue Peter studio? This is the aspect of the show that the comedians always pounce on. But the show has a good sense of humour. John Noakes first introduced humour to the show. He was a good counter to the rather stuffy Christopher Trace who acted and looked middle-aged even though he was only in his 20s. Featuring Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean and Catherine Tate as her Lauren character have been good ideas in more recent times. Presenters seem to have got younger and this is not entirely like policemen getting younger.

In the 70s presenters were older and John Noakes was still presenting the show in his 40s. Today presenters tend to be mid to late 20s which is I think a bit more kid friendly. A great programme and more educational daytime TV than Richard and Judy (and the competition questions are harder than those on Richard and Judy) 0 of 0 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes Blue Peter presenters... where are they now? | Radio Times Twitter Blue Peter presenters... where are they now? As the Blue Peter badge celebrates its fiftieth birthday this week - we track down some of the most loved presenters of the iconic BBC children's show Comments 4:59 PM, 18 June 2013 Peter Purves On Blue Peter: 16 November 1967- 23 March 1978 The Blue Peter lothario (well, Valerie Singleton admitted to a brief affair with him so that makes him a lothario in our books) is now 74 and lives in Suffolk with his second wife, Kathryn.

Unlike his co-presenter John Noakes, Purves managed to carve out a successful post BP career and even the dog he was given – Petra – saw him earn a place presenting Crufts (thus scaling the kind of giddy heights that Noakes and his beloved dog Shep could only have dreamed of). Other work includes presenting shows such as BBC1 motorcycling programme Kick Start and working as a pantomime director (directing more than 30 productions) and appearing as an after dinner speaker. Describing himself as a “terribly ordinary…. very straightforward and simple sort of person” he has expressed a degree of embarrassment in interviews about his sexually adventurous youth – especially regarding Singleton’s claim that he gave her a BSE – big sexual experience – when they worked on the show. Avert your eyes and ears children. John Noakes On Blue Peter: 30 December 1965 - 26 June 1978 Yorkshireman and pre-Peter Duncan Blue Peter action man, John Noakes is probably the grumpiest BP alumnus, if his many appearances on reminscence shows are anything to go by.

Still, he looks back fondly to his work with Purves: "It was a bit like an overgrown schoolboy's job. I was Peter Pan really. I sometimes think I still am... Peter and me worked so well together, like Laurel and Hardy." If the tastes of the BP ladies were anything to go by he was probably more Hardy than Laurel as Purves and not Noakes apparently pulled both Valerie Singleton and Lesley Judd. Never one to shy away from criticising the show, which he said never paid him enough and should have insured him for all those cer-razy stunts of his, Noakes' career was never quite the same post BP. Yes he remains the longest serving presenter (12 years and 6 months) and made Go With Noakes which he appeared on with his beloved Shep. But who remembers that? He's also written a children's book, The Flight of the Magic Clog, and in 1982 tried (unsuccessfully) to sail around the world. He has more recently appeared on I'm Famous And Frightened and Worst Celebrity Driver and still lives, we believe, in Mallorca.

Simon Groom 5 May 1978 to 23 June 1986 This writer’s favouritest ever presenter (I used to watch him walking his gorgeous Golden Retriever dog Goldie near my house in the early 1980’s) Groom was notable for making sexual innuendos; (“what a beautiful pair of knockers”, “as long as you have a good length you can always manage a good lay” etc.). Apparently the trick was to say them and get out of the studio before a furious Biddy Baxter could come down from the gallery above and berate him. Groom had a cool side – he was spotted by the show when working as a DJ (stage name Neil St John) and enjoyed a stint presenting various TV and radio documentaries and remained the show’s countryside correspondent after he left in 1986. He now lives in Matlock, Derbyshire where he heads his own television production company and has enjoyed his time presenting Groom's Gold - "two hours of great music and nostalgia to brighten your weekend" for BBC Radio Sheffield.

Mark Curry 23 June 1986 - 26 June 1989 One of the early 1980’s dream team of Curry, Keating and Fielding, this popular presenter has enjoyed a *ahem * quiet life since leaving the show, appearing in panto, satellite TV travel shows, hosting Catchphrase and having a bit part in Last Of The Summer Wine. He also co-presented Record Breakers for a while, so it is clear that his main interests appear to be outside TV. A qualified tennis coach, he has commentated at Wimbledon for BBC Radio 5, Radio Wimbledon and for Talk Radio Europe and in 2009 married his long-term partner Jeremy Sandle in a civil ceremony.

Peter Duncan On Blue Peter: 11 September 1980 to 18 June 1984 9 September 1985 to 27 November 1986 One of the most popular presenters, famed for running marathons and for his daredevil stunts, he was unusual for enjoying two separate stints on the show – between 1980 and 1984 and 1985 to 1986 sandwiching the unhappy career of the late Michael Sundin who was fired by Biddy Baxter (allegedly for not gelling with the audiences). Daredevilry saw Duncan win many fans and he was given the show Duncan Dares after he left BP for good. Also enjoyed appearances on stage – he was nominated for an Olivier Award for best actor in a musical – and for raising the profile of the Scouts when he worked as Chief Scout between 2004 and 2009.

Tim Vincent 16 December 1993 - 24 January 1997 One of the most successful BP presenters, this son of the Valleys (by which we mean he’s Welsh) was already a successful actor when he joined the show, and combined his presenting work by playing Marty in two series of the BBC1 drama Dangerfield and as a presenter on The Clothes Show. He left the show in 1997 and later presented the Saturday show Fully Booked before returning to play vet Adam Forrester in Emmerdale. Vincent also appeared on stage where roles have incdued the priapic gamekeeper Mellors in a stage production of Lady Chatterley's Lover. He now lives in LA where he presents NBC’s Access Hollywood, one of America’s most watched shows. Katy Hill 23 June 1995 - 19 June 2000 A popular girl next door-style presenter, Hill left the show to become one of the four presenters hired to replace Zoe Ball and Jamie Theakston on Live and Kicking.

Unfortunately, poor ratings saw her quit less than a year later, but she has since managed to land presenting gigs on Top of the Pops, Football Fever and the weekend breakfast show on 95.8 Capital FM. Hill also came second in Channel 4 reality show The Games. Married to fellow TV presenter Trey Farley she has two children and lives in West London. Blue Peter (Series) - TV Tropes Blue Peter You need to login to do this. Get Known if you don't have an account Share WMG Hey kids, today we're going to learn how to write an article on TV Tropes using nothing but a keyboard, some sticky-back plastic and an empty washing-up bottle. But first, here's One I Prepared Earlier : Blue Peter is the longest running children's programme in the world, starting in 1958 and still going today. Usually aired on BBC1 for most of its run, but moved to BBC2 during Wimbledon . Nowadays airs on CBBC . The show is best described as a "magazine show".

The presenters (usually three or four these days) do a variety of different activities: Craft demonstrations, such as a papier-mâché Tracey Island .note The BBC received letters from over 100,000 people asking how to make the Tracey Island model. Presenters doing rather insane challenges. This will involve stuff like painting the Forth Bridge, military assault courses, or climbing Nelson's Column. How stuff is made. Meeting celebrities. Acting in panto(mime)s , historical re-enactments and original tales. (They once managed to do an entire edition on the Young Bond novels, complete with performances of James Bond songs, and never showed a movie clip). There are often performances by various people. Everyone who appears on the show gets a Blue Peter Badge, which allows free admission to a number of UK attractions. There are other types of badges, the most famous being the Gold Badge, given to people who have done something very special (presenters are now getting them on departure). Every year, the team go on a Summer Expedition abroad.

There is also the annual charity appeal, with the "totaliser" and the attendant " bring-and-buy sales " - usually, the charity appeals run on a biannual schedule of these and 'collecting X' note in 2009 it was T-shirts, used to make hospital gowns for kids with cleft lips and palates from India, often things which can be reused, or recycled for monetary gain. The show has a number of resident pets. The most famous of these was a dog called Petra (actually a substitute after the first dog died), whose death became national news. ITV tried to launch a knock-off imitator called Magpie , but this faltered and failed after perhaps four years, despite the attractions of presenter Susan Stranks . The show has an extremely good relationship with Doctor Who : Presenter Peter Purves also played Steven Taylor, a companion to the First Doctor. Actress Sophie Aldred (who played Ace) was awarded two Blue Peter badges as a child, she later wore it as part of her costume (which caused something of a stir until it was confirmed that it was indeed Sophie's badge and not a prop).

Oddly enough, the first one was for a design for a rocket launcher created from a washing up liquid bottle and a garden hose! David Tennant received a gold badge in 2009. A 1973 edition contains the only broadcast footage of the First Doctor's regeneration and the show has made appeals for lost footage. During the 1970s, the show had a nationwide 'manhunt' for a group of criminals who stole a set of Daleks from the BBC. The Daleks were returned within 24 hours, in varying degrees of misuse. In-character Daleks participated in the appeal and updates. The show was featured on screen in "Aliens of London" , and The Sarah Jane Adventures episode "Invasion of the Bane". The show has ran numerous competitions for children to contribute to the series, including: A contest to design the monster for "Love & Monsters" . A contest to get an appearance in "Utopia" . A contest to design a TARDIS console for "The Doctor's Wife" . A contest to design a gizmo for "Deep Breath" , resulting in Strax's medical examiner. There's been quite a few Who-related crafts.

Bits of Blue Peter are often included on the DVD releases of classic series stories as bonus clips, often featuring interviews with the actors or displays of relevant Who-mania. There's a myth that the last episode of " The Tenth Planet " and " Power of the Daleks " were lost by Blue Peter. However, what is true is the clip of William Hartnell 's regeneration survives to this day without any loss of quality because of Blue Peter. There have been 32 presenters over the years. They include: Valerie Singleton John Noakes, the longest serving presenter, remembered for his collie and associated Catch Phrase ("Get down, Shep!") This sums up John Noakes/Shep quite well. Peter Purves, a companion of the Doctor , as mentioned above. Janet Ellis, who also made a minor appearance in Doctor Who ("The Horns of Nimon"). Is the mother of pop singer Sophie Ellis Bextor. Left the series when she was denied a new contract for getting pregnant while unmarried. (The baby wasn't Sophie). Sarah Greene. Also known from Saturday Morning Kids Show Going Live, and another Doctor Who actor (one of the Cryons in Attack of the Cybermen). Simon Groom, later a successful documentary filmmaker.

Was well known in his day for his ability to get crap under the radar. Richard Bacon. For all the wrong reasons - see below. Mark Curry, a man who epitomized all that was tackiest about 1980's style and fashion. Once demonstrated some life-size human sculptures in lego bricks and succeeded in breaking the head off one, which rolled off accross the studio floor. Konnie Huq ("Huck") - having been on the show for a decade, she's apparently a major draw for students, for the rather obvious reason of her looks. On Mock the Week Dara Ó Briain implied she was attractive and got mocked for it for the rest of the episode. Left in 2008.note She is married to Deadpan Snarker deconstructionist presenter Charlie Brooker Gethin Jones. Appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2007. Matt Baker. Strictly Come Dancing 2010 finalist, and thought by some the be Konnie's equal in the looks department. John Leslie, who's become something of a punchline due to losing a later job on This Morning over rape allegations and admitted drug use.

Caron Keating, who sadly died young of breast cancer and left the presenting team having to explain the concept of death to a child audience. Not easy. Anthea Turner, whose TV career went stratospheric after leaving the show - the completely opposite trajectory to most ex childrens' TV presenters. Less frequently seen in recent years. Yvette Fielding, now involved in paranormal reality TV. Katy Hill, notable among the The '90s crowd due to wearing miniskirts and the related camerawork attempts to avoid showing anything too inappropriate as a result. Zöe Salmon, an ex Miss Northern Ireland. Her moment of notoriety came when she expressed on-air fury about a graphic of the British Isles that showed Ireland as a united whole and did not adequately convey the separateness of Northern Ireland . Worse, Ireland was coloured green. By way of punishment, Zoe was sent to do a report on Irish traditional dancing - the sort which does not attract Protestants for long-established historical reasons - to indicate that the show was not and would never be sectarian. Michael Sundin, a former dancer who left BP very abruptly when tabloids outed him as not only gay, but a former porn performer and occasional rent-boy.

He has since died of AIDS-related complications. His death was completely ignored, compared to the lengthy eulogy and obituary that Caron Keating deservedly received from the show. Tina Heath, who was asked to leave the show because she had become pregnant outside wedlock and had no intention of marrying the man involved. Diane Louise-Jordan, the first non-white Blue Peter presenter. Having joined some years after Tina Heath, her being an unmarried single mother was less of an issue. HRH Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, was a guest presenter on the show between 1970-74, although she is not usually counted as one of the "official" thirty-two. A friend and fan of the show, Anne Windsor accompanied the then presenters out to Africa on a summer safari, generally enjoying herself in the company of the presenters, and being very good PR for the Royals. Princess Anne also reported on horsey matters for the show and very graciously gave riding lessons to BP presenters hitherto innocent of the charms of equine contact. Her association with the show diminished after marriage in 1974, but she has returned at intervals.

There have been a number of very notable moments: An elephant defecating on camera and walking out of the studio, stepping on John Noakes' foot in the process. (Noakes later claimed that he only shouted "Get off my foot!" for comic effect, and that if the elephant had really stepped on his foot he'd have ended up walking on crutches.) Richard Bacon's sacking for taking cocaine , which resulted in a senior BBC official reading a live on-air apology and him being stripped of his Blue Peter badge . A Christmas Episode Reunion Show , about ten years later, casting various current and past presenters in a musical, featured an unseen villain named "Richard". Following his defeat the male lead said to the camera "I've cooked his bacon.". Shortly after Bacon's sacking on October 1998, Michael Palin was a guest on BP, there to talk about his latest globetrotting TV series. In true Monty Python style, Palin, invited to help with "the make", was seen on camera experimentally holding the glue-pot to his nose and taking a long, deep, investigative sniff.

Vandals breaking into the Blue Peter Garden and wrecking it, which was treated on-air by the hosts with all the gravitas of a murder. (An American equivalent would be slashing Mr. Rogers' tyres. You just don't do it.) The series Ashes to Ashes , about a cop who wakes up in the 1980's, features a Historical In-Joke where Gene Hunt turns out to be the vandal, destroying it while apprehending a suspect. In 2007 there was a handful of scandals about "rigged" audience participation events, including a child who was backstage apparently winning a phone-in competition when the lines went down; the decision to ignore an internet vote on the name of the new cat; and two actors being amongst the kids interviewing impressionist John Culshaw, to ensure the right sort of questions got asked. In 2012, the BBC announced the end for Blue Peter on mainstream BBC TV. The show left its long-time home on the BBC1 network (along with the last of the childrens' shows in their traditional slot) and was moved to the CBBC childrens' network, one of the BBC's many digital channels.

This decision has caused comment and criticism, especially as the BBC, like ITV, proposes to fill the gap left by the departure of children's TV with quizzes and game shows with much lower production values. This follows on from the decision that after forty years, there will no longer be an annual tie-in book. This show contains examples of: Brand X : the show invented the phrase "sticky-backed plastic" (for Fablon and Coveron) and used "sticky tape" (for Sellotape). The show once did an entire feature on the production of Smarties, while never naming the product. Catch Phrase : "Here's one I made earlier" and "And now for something completely different". The former is rarely used now - it's that cliché - and the latter is far better known for its use on Monty Python's Flying Circus . The Christmas Annual : The Blue Peter Book, published from 1964 to 2011 with occasional gaps. Become a Blue Peter presenter | GoThinkBig TV If you’re good at arts and crafts and fancy having the power to dispense those hallowed Blue Peter badges, this is your big chance.

This summer the BBC launches a talent show to find the next Matt Baker/Anthea Turner-a-like, but it isn’t your average job interview. To find the one destined to frolic in the famous Blue Peter garden and take part in the equally famous Blue Peter challenges (remember when Tim Vincent broke the sound barrier in a Tornado jet? That was cool), viewers will vote how best to put hopefuls through their paces to prove they’ve got what it takes. There will also be a test involving unpredictable animals. Which sounds pretty fun. The working title at the mo is So You Want To Be A Blue Peter Presenter? and, if this sounds like the perfect job for you (and you’re OK with physical challenges, dogs and mad creatures), then email here immediately to be in with a chance. In the meantime, check our top ten of the thirty-eight presenters you’ll be sharing the Blue Peter Wall of Fame with. If there was a wall of fame, which we’re sure there must be. Somewhere. Valerie Singleton: 3 September 1962- Eternity Golden Age Member #1.

Often referred to as Mrs Blue Peter (this isn’t true, but it should be), Valerie officially left in 1972 but continued to do a Special Assignment series till 1975. She famously accompanied Princess Anne to Kenya on the royal’s first trip abroad. Basically, she’s a huge Blue Peter Legend and Richard Marson states in his Blue Peter 50th Anniversary book that “Singleton never really left Blue Peter”. John Noakes: 30 December 1965 – 26 June 1978 Golden Age Member #2. The longest serving male presenter with a Yorkshire accent when everyone sounded like the Queen. Was given Patch the dog to look after, who tragically died from a rare disease. John was then given a mad Collie called Shep who would often jump on top of things, hence the catchphrase “Get down, Shep!” Peter Purves: 16 November 1967 – 23 March 1978 Golden Age Member #3. The second longest serving presenter was originally a companion of Doctor Who (when William Hartnell was the Doctor). Was known as “the sensible one” out of Valerie, John and Lesley Judd (below).

Who were all bloody mad for it, obviously. Lesley Judd: 5 May 1972 – 12 April 1979 Golden Age Member #4. Lesley Judd had trouble with the press when her ex husband threatened to do tell-all interviews. The fact she divorced at all was a bit problematic as, in those days, it didn’t set a great example to children (see: Richard Bacon). The scandal blew over, so she stayed, but then married and divorced a Blue Peter film editor which caused more problems. Simon Groom: 15 May 1978 – 23 June 1986 Would say filth that would go over the heads of innocent children. His most famous was “what a lovely pair of knockers” with regards Durham Cathedral. A close second was: “As long as you have a decent length to start with, then you can manage a good lay” when referring to hedge maintenance. Made the show a lot more entertaining for adults. Peter Duncan: 11 September 1980 – 18 June 1984 Almost as soon as he’d got the post, it was revealed that Duncan had appeared nude in a British film.

He didn’t leave, though, remaining on the team until 1984, returning again for a year in 1985. Known for his madcap stunts as opposed to that time he got naked. John Leslie: 20 April 1989 – 20 January 1994 First Scottish Blue Peter presenter, and the tallest (he is 6″4). His final challenge before leaving was to abseil down BBC Television Centre, complete a velcro and wheelbarrow obstacle course, do a spot of trampolining and conduct an orchestra in the studio. He did a pretty good job, tbh. Let’s not mention Abi Titmuss. Anthea Turner: 14 September 1992 – 27 June 1994 Much loved by mums and grans, Anthea went from awkward flop on UP2U – where a motorcycle stunt she took part in went wrong and resulted in her suing the BBC – to Blue Peter presenter for just two years. Her smile could be seen from space but, erm, she wasn’t that interesting.

Tim Vincent: 16 December 1993 – 24 January 1997 Travelled to South Africa, broke the sound barrier in a jet and completed the New York Marathon all in the name of Blue Peter. Went on to be the go-to presenter for most cool kids TV shows (Shortchange, where kids rang up and complained about faulty crisp packets etc, was awesome. If a slightly odd concept). Katy Hill: 23 June 1995 - 19 June 2000 Smiley bouncy Katy lived in Mongolia for a week, joined the Cirque du Soleil and made countless things from yoghurt pots. She got the job reportedly by absolutely bombarding the bosses with showreel after showreel and most guys will admit to her being their first crush. Konnie Huq: 1 December 1997 – 23 January 2008 Wife of Charlie Brooker and pioneer of the creaky voice and crooked mouth, when it became apparent that one of the competitions was faked, Konnie was the one who apologised. And she was so genuine that most of us in the GoThinkBig office really did forgive her.

She was the longest serving female presenter and one of the best. Matt Baker: 25 June 1999 – 26 June 2006 When clocking Blue Peter were looking for presenters, Matt put together a showreel of him reading a story and riding a unicycle. Used to be a gymnast, so would often do the more physical challenges – including training as a stuntman, learning to fly hang gliders and making a tandem world record breaking flight. BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Fifty facts about Blue Peter at 50 Fifty facts about Blue Peter at 50 Advertisement Watch some of the most memorable highlights from the past 50 years As Blue Peter celebrates 50 years on air, we look back at some of the show's highlights and institutions. IN THE BEGINNING • Blue Peter, the longest-running children's programme in the world, was first broadcast - for 15 minutes - on 16 October 1958. It was originally supposed to fill a six-week gap in scheduling. • The show is named after the blue-and-white flag flown on a ship's yard arm to show it is ready to go to sea - suggesting a voyage of discovery for viewers.

ADVENT CROWN COMPONENTS Wire coat hangers Four candles (not fork handles) • Although Blue Peter was the brainchild of producer John Hunter Blair in 1958, it was only following the 1962 arrival of Biddy Baxter - together with new director Edward Barnes - that things like appeals, foreign trips, competition, pets and sticky-backed plastic began to appear. • Housewife Margaret Parnell sent in the first idea for the "here's one I made earlier" section in 1963 - and ultimately spent nearly 40 years devising more than 700 "makes". • The Thunderbirds Tracy Island model remains the show's most popular make with more than 100,000 viewers requesting a factsheet. Presenter Anthea Turner still owns the original she crafted on the show in 1993. Another favourite was the Christmas advent crown made from coat hangers and fireproof tinsel. • On 30 July 1968, ITV launched Magpie - a rival show made by Thames Television which launched on the new licensee's first day of broadcast.

The programme, which had a mascot called Murgatroyd the magpie, aimed to be hipper than its BBC counterpart. Blue Peter eventually saw it off in 1980. Blue Peter has won 40 awards in its 50-year history • There have been only six editors in the show's 50-year history. The first was Ms Baxter who stepped up from producer into the newly-created role in 1965. She was followed by Lewis Bronze, Oliver Macfarlane, Steve Hocking, Richard Marson and current editor Tim Levell. • The programme blazed a trail for many subsequent BBC shows by breaking out of the studio and making full use of BBC Television Centre as a location. Initially, this prompted a memo from BBC management warning that "Television Centre is not a place of entertainment". • Blue Peter has won 40 awards, including a special award at the TV Baftas in 1998 for "outstanding contribution to children's television". PRESENTERS • According to Biddy Baxter, Blue Peter creator John Hunter Blair had two passions - 00 gauge railways and attractive women.

The first presenters of the show were 00 gauge railway enthusiast Christopher Trace and 21-year-old Leila Williams, crowned Miss Great Britain the previous year. Daredevil Peter Duncan was a favourite with viewers • Yorkshireman John Noakes presented the programme for 12 and a half years between 1965 and 1978. He left at the age of 45, making him the longest-serving of the 34 Blue Peter presenters. • Anita West had the briefest stint, spending four months on the show - from 7 May to 3 September 1962 - before returning to her acting career. • Yvette Fielding, who was 18 when she joined the show in 1987, was its youngest-ever presenter. • The classic line-up of John Noakes, Valerie Singleton and Peter Purves presented the show for five years from 1967 to 1972. • Peter Duncan, who wore trademark green-and-white checked outfits, is the only presenter to have had two stints on Blue Peter - between 1980 and 1984, and 1985 and 1986.

He was awarded a gold Blue Peter badge in February 2007 in recognition of his work as Chief Scout. Caron Keating presented between November 1986 and January 1990 • Like John Noakes, whose "long fall" earned him a place in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest freefall parachute jump by a civilian, Peter Duncan became associated with daredevil stunts. He went on to host Duncan Dares after quitting Blue Peter. • In January 1990, Diane-Louise Jordan became Blue Peter's first black presenter. Louise-Jordan, who stayed in the show for six years, now hosts Songs of Praise. • Presenters who became more well-known after leaving the show include John Leslie, who had a relationship with Catherine Zeta Jones while he was in Blue Peter, Sarah Greene and the late Caron Keating. BLUE PETER ON iPLAYER Blue Peter: Craziest Moments • Greene, who fronted the show from 1980 to 1983, met her future husband, former TV presenter Mike Smith, while she was being filmed learning to dive at the wreck of sunken ship the Mary Rose.

• Keating, who hosted the show from 1986 to 1990, died tragically at the age of 41. The daughter of TV presenter Gloria Hunniford, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 and died at her mother's home in April 2004. IN ANOTHER LIFE • Prior to working on Blue Peter, Peter Duncan appeared nude in the British film The Lifetaker. He also briefly starred in the cult film, Flash Gordon, in which he was killed by a tree monster. Peter Purves (right) previously starred as Doctor Who's assistant • Singer James Blunt - then James Blount - appeared on the show as a child, as did Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and presenter Konnie Huq. • Household names who applied to become Blue Peter presenters before they found fame include Gail Porter, Morse star Kevin Whately, The Bill's Todd Carty and Tiswas presenter Sally James. • Peter Purves, who appeared between 1967 and 1978, previously starred as the doctor's assistant in early episodes of hit BBC show Doctor Who.

GAFFES AND SCANDALS • Host John Noakes was famously asked to drop his trousers after a bruising adventure on a bobsleigh. At which point, he realised he was wearing his wife's underwear which he had put on by accident in the dark. Richard Bacon, pictured with Tim Henman and a fan, was sacked in 1998 • Simon Groom, who appeared on the show for eight years from 1978 to 1986, along with his dog Goldie, once said on the show: "What a beautiful pair of knockers." He was commenting on replacements for the historical door knocker at Durham Cathedral. • In 1987, it was revealed that Janet Ellis was an unmarried mother. The presenter - who left the show following the birth of her second child, Jack - already had a daughter, the future pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor. • Richard Bacon became the first Blue Peter presenter to be sacked, in October 1998, after he admitted taking cocaine, following reports in a tabloid newspaper. Lorraine Heggessey, then head of BBC Children's programmes, apologised on air.

• In 2007, presenters were forced to apologise after faking the results of a phone-in competition. A technical problem led to a visiting child posing as a competition winner. "We let you down," Konnie Huq told viewers. APPEALS • In the programme's early years, Christopher Trace presented Christmas toy reviews. The first appeal began with the idea of giving, rather than receiving toys - with the audience asked to send in toys for members of the audience who would not be receiving any. Totalisers, to tot up donations, are a mainstay of Blue Peter appeals • It is estimated that, across 46 Blue Peter appeals, the equivalent of more than ï¿½100m in today's money has been raised, while 14 Bring and Buy Sale initiatives have netted the equivalent of about ï¿½57m.

• Blue Peter appeals have raised money to help buy: 8,350 lavatories, 57 lorries, 32 ponies, 25 lifeboats - some of which can still be found at seven lifeboat stations around the UK - 12 Romanian houses, eight flats for homeless people, six bungalows, three caravans, three schools, two guide dogs and two day centres. THE BLUE PETER GARDEN • Following the launch of the garden at BBC Television Centre in 1974, gardener Percy Thrower became a household name alongside the show's presenters. He retired in 1988, and was followed by Chris Crowder, Clare Bradley and Chris Collins. Blue Peter gardener Percy Thrower became a household name • In November 1983, the garden was devastated by vandals, leaving Thrower in tears. • In 2000, footballer Les Ferdinand, who was brought up close to Television Centre, told reporters he had been involved in the raid on the Blue Peter garden. But last year, he told the Guardian newspaper that, under pressure from journalists, he had made the story up as a joke.

• George the tortoise, Blue Peter's longest-surviving pet who died at the age of 81, is the only animal to have been buried in the Blue Peter garden. • Three time capsules have been buried around BBC Television Centre. The first, buried in 1971, had to be moved because of building development. A second was buried in 1984, and another in 2000 - scheduled to be opened in 2029. • Another millennium time capsule was hidden under the building that is now the O2 arena in south-east London, as part of the build up to 2000, and will be opened in 2050. BADGES • Introduced in 1963, the Blue Peter badge was Biddy Baxter's idea. She wanted to generate fresh ideas for the programme and offered the badges as an incentive to eager young viewers to write in. Lesley Judd, brought into the show in 1972, gives a badge to a viewer • The badge allows free admission into 200 venues around the UK.

However, in 2006, the scheme was briefly suspended when the badges were found to have been auctioned on the eBay website. • There are six types of badges now in existence - blue, green, purple, orange, silver and gold. • The Gold Blue Peter Badge is the show's highest honour and is awarded to those who have displayed, among other things, exceptional courage, or have represented their country in an international event. • Famous gold badge winners include the Queen - who visited the studio in 2001 - author JK Rowling and footballer David Beckham. • Olympic bronze medallist Bryony Stokes wore her Blue Peter badge as she windsurfed to victory at the Beijing Olympics 2008. ANIMALS • Among the Blue Peter pets there have been eight dogs, five tortoises, nine cats and two parrots. Presenters Michael Sundin and Simon Groom with tortoise George in 1985 • Fred the tortoise, who first appeared on 21 October 1963, had to be renamed Freda, after it was discovered, four years later, that he was actually a girl.

• Bonnie, a much-loved golden retriever, was given a Gold Blue Peter badge on her retirement in 1991. • John Noakes' catchphrase, "get down Shep", used to control his canine companion, was incorporated into a pop song of the same name by The Barron Knights in 1978, reaching number 44 in the charts. • And finally, in 1969, Lulu the elephant famously defecated, urinated and dragged her keeper through the mess in the studio. During the chaotic scenes, the keeper could be heard shouting for someone to fetch "me stick". Lulu the elephant is one of Blue Peter's most fondly-remembered guests As Peter Purves explains: "During rehearsals, anytime he wanted the elephant to do anything, he had a chain around its neck and he'd pull it, the elephant wouldn't go and he'd bonk it on the head with a stick and Biddy thought it looked cruel. "She said, 'Would you please do it without a stick,' - so he did.

The elephant went wherever it liked - end of story." BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Talking Shop: Konnie Huq Talking Shop: Konnie Huq Konnie Huq, Blue Peter's longest-serving female presenter, is leaving the show on Tuesday after 10 years. She has faced challenges from feeding sharks to dissecting a deer, but now feels it is time to try something new. Huq reveals what has made her squirm on the show, how her fan mail can be a mixed bag and what she plans to do next. Why are you leaving? Top five memories Well, 10 years is a good innings and it's good to leave on a high. I'm still enjoying it but I'm ready - I wouldn't say I've burnt out - that sounds bad, but I've done my time, and I'm ready for a bit of a rest maybe. What does it feel like to be the show's longest-serving female presenter? It's bizarre because it has gone really quickly. It feels like 'Oh, am I worthy of that title?' because it's just flown by. I'm 32 now and was 22 when I started, fresh out of uni.

John Noakes is the longest-serving presenter overall - trust him to rain on my parade! What were your best and worst moments on the show? Worst moments - recently it wasn't so great with "Catgate" and telephone line-gate and all of that [when the show had to apologise for the high-profile rigging of a poll and faking of competition results] - that wasn't brilliant. And my best moment - I know it sounds cliched, but I guess it was joining the show. It has opened the door to so many opportunities and experiences and travel to all those different places. Have you ever had any unusual fan mail? Yes - Blue Peter I think attracts unusual letters, I think there's something about it, where you attract a lot of interesting people just by the nature of the show. Often we're interviewing fanatics on this, that and the other. There was this bloke - I think they sent the BBC investigations department round to his house - he seemed to think I was having his baby, which was a bit odd, and he had that really jaggedy writing. We do get odd letters, it's quite funny, it can keep us amused - we don't get shown all the mail, though.

There's a department that just answers mail because there's so much of it. When we have a competition it quadruples the load. What do you think about how the show has changed since you started presenting it? The good thing about Blue Peter is it updates with the times. More recently it's changed a lot more - it's very into surprises and challenges, which is probably a good time for me to be leaving, as I'm not good at this You've Been Framed-type stuff. The other day I was told that I had to start filming at 4am at Billingsgate Fish Market and I was like - "but I'm leaving" - and they were like "well actually it's for BBC Vision, it's just this in-house thing and they really wanted you to do it, can you do it as a favour to the department". So I was up at 3am in Billingsgate Fish Market, and it stinks there, and I was meant to be going filming to a spa with GMTV afterwards, smelling of fish. Konnie's foreign expeditions for Blue Peter included Japan in 2005 All these people there were really odd, but then I quite like odd, quirky contributors.

This guy was enthusing about fish, and we do have all these crazy people on our show who are quite passionate about this, that and the other. And then this table of fish falls down, and I said "this is a wind-up isn't it?", but they just carried on. And then they made me dissect this octopus. But the thing is, on Blue Peter they've made me dissect a deer before. So although it was supposed to be a gag, it was nothing out of the ordinary. It was a wind-up - the other three presenters appeared - for a show called Blue Peter Meets Prank Patrol! So they've got nine minutes of that on my leaving show. When I was filming in the Bahamas, diving with sharks, I said, "Could you use this as my leaving film?" and they said "No, we've got something else in mind." And it's stinking Billingsgate Fish Market! I wasn't that keen on it but what can you do? I'm so used to doing gross things, they send people down sewers and all sorts, that I didn't go "urgh". What was it like having to apologise on-air for the rigging of the vote to name the show's cat?

You know what - I didn't do the apology for that. My agent said "she's apologised enough" so the other presenter did it and I got to introduce the new cat. I think people just assume it was me. Blue Peter will be 50 this year - are you involved in the celebrations? I hope I will be but as of yet I don't know what they've got in mind. I don't think they'll be celebrating it on children's TV, I think it will just be on grown-up telly. Who is your favourite Blue Peter presenter? Ooh, well as a child I used to really like Simon Groom. I think I thought he was cool - that says a lot about me, doesn't it? What are you doing next? I think put my feet up. I've lined up lots of corporate work because suddenly I can do those - our schedules are so manic on Blue Peter that I couldn't do much, so now I've done the hard slog. It's random things. One thing is I'm going to this resort in the Canary Islands and being paid loads of money to just to large it up in this resort - it's weird, the corporate world and what you get.

What about acting - you had a part in BBC One series Robin Hood I got Maid Marion killed - I was a baddie. With the full-on Blue Peter schedules it's difficult to fit anything else in - and with that part Blue Peter asked to do a behind-the-scenes film, so now I'll have time to have meetings and plan what I'm doing. With Gethin doing Strictly Come Dancing we were a man down so it was even more manic - there was just no time for anything else. Konnie Huq talked to BBC News entertainment reporter Helen Bushby.

Question: Who was the longest-serving presenter of UK children’s tv show ‘Blue Peter’?
Answer: John Noakes